ACT English Sentence Structure Parallel Structure Lists Comparisons Correlative Conjunctions

What This Is and Why It Matters for the ACT

Sentence Structure — Parallel Structure: Lists, Comparisons, Correlative Conjunctions is tested in the English section of the ACT. This topic appears frequently in every English test and can make up a significant portion of your score. It's considered an intermediate-level topic, requiring a good understanding of grammar rules and sentence structure.

Key Concepts (What You Must Know)

• Parallel structure is a grammatical rule that requires using the same grammatical form for items in a list or comparison.
• Correlative conjunctions (e.g., both...and, either...or, neither...nor) are used to connect words, phrases, or clauses that have the same grammatical function.
• A list is a series of items presented in a sentence or passage.
• A comparison is a sentence or phrase that compares two or more things.

Step-by-Step Strategy for This Topic

1. Read the underlined portion of the sentence carefully.
2. Identify the type of sentence structure (list, comparison, or correlative conjunctions).
3. Check if the items in the list or comparison are grammatically parallel.
4. Eliminate any answer choices that use incorrect parallel structure.
5. Verify that the correct answer choice uses the correct grammatical form for all items in the list or comparison.
6. Spend about 1-2 minutes on each question, depending on your reading speed and familiarity with grammar rules.

⚠️ Don't assume a list or comparison is grammatically parallel just because it sounds right. Verify the grammatical form of each item.

How It’s Tested on the ACT

English: A sentence or passage with an underlined portion, requiring you to identify and correct grammatical errors, including parallel structure.
Math: Not tested in this topic.
Reading: Not tested in this topic.
Science: Not tested in this topic.
Writing: Not tested in this topic.

Common distractors include: * Using incorrect parallel structure (e.g., "I like reading books, writing stories, and to learn new things.") * Failing to use correlative conjunctions correctly (e.g., "I like both reading books and writing stories, but not learning new things.") * Misusing commas or other punctuation to separate items in a list.

Common Mistakes & Exam Traps

1. The mistake: Using incorrect parallel structure in a list or comparison.
   • Why it happens: Rushing through the question or misreading the sentence.
   • How to avoid it: Carefully read the underlined portion and identify the type of sentence structure.
   • Exam board insight: The ACT penalizes incorrect parallel structure as a grammatical error.
2. The mistake: Failing to use correlative conjunctions correctly.
   • Why it happens: Misunderstanding the function of correlative conjunctions.
   • How to avoid it: Review the function of correlative conjunctions and practice using them correctly.
   • Exam board insight: The ACT expects you to use correlative conjunctions correctly to connect words, phrases, or clauses.
3. The mistake: Misusing commas or other punctuation to separate items in a list.
   • Why it happens: Rushing through the question or misreading the sentence.
   • How to avoid it: Carefully read the underlined portion and identify the type of sentence structure.
   • Exam board insight: The ACT penalizes incorrect punctuation as a grammatical error.

Practice Questions (3-5 questions)

Question 1
The underlined portion of the sentence is incorrect. Choose the correct version.
"I like reading books, writing stories, and to learn new things." A) I like reading books, writing stories, and learning new things.
B) I like reading books, writing stories, and to learn new things.
C) I like reading books, write stories, and learning new things.
D) I like reading books, writing stories, and to learn new things.
E) I like reading books, writing stories, and learning new things.

Answer: A) I like reading books, writing stories, and learning new things.
Explanation: The correct answer uses the correct grammatical form for all items in the list, using a verb ("learning") instead of a preposition ("to learn").

Question 2
The underlined portion of the sentence is incorrect. Choose the correct version.
"I like both reading books and writing stories, but not learning new things." A) I like both reading books and writing stories, but not learning new things.
B) I like reading books and writing stories, but not both.
C) I like reading books and writing stories, but not learning new things.
D) I like reading books, writing stories, and learning new things.
E) I like reading books and writing stories, but not learning new things.

Answer: A) I like both reading books and writing stories, but not learning new things.
Explanation: The correct answer uses the correct correlative conjunction ("both...and") to connect words, phrases, or clauses.

Question 3
The underlined portion of the sentence is incorrect. Choose the correct version.
"I have two favorite foods: pizza, and ice cream." A) I have two favorite foods: pizza, and ice cream.
B) I have two favorite foods: pizza, ice cream.
C) I have two favorite foods: pizza, or ice cream.
D) I have two favorite foods: pizza, and ice cream.
E) I have two favorite foods: pizza, ice cream.

Answer: D) I have two favorite foods: pizza, and ice cream.
Explanation: The correct answer uses the correct correlative conjunction ("and") to connect words, phrases, or clauses.

Quick Reference Card (60-Second Summary)

• Use the same grammatical form for items in a list or comparison.
• Review the function of correlative conjunctions (e.g., both...and, either...or, neither...nor).
• Carefully read the underlined portion and identify the type of sentence structure.
• Eliminate any answer choices that use incorrect parallel structure.
• Verify that the correct answer choice uses the correct grammatical form for all items in the list or comparison.

If You Get Stuck on Test Day

• If you don't know the answer, eliminate any answer choices that use incorrect parallel structure.
• Make an educated guess based on your understanding of grammar rules.
• Spend about 1-2 minutes on each question, depending on your reading speed and familiarity with grammar rules.
• If you're running out of time, skip this question and come back to it later.

Related ACT Topics

• Subject-Verb Agreement: This topic is closely related to parallel structure, as it requires using the correct verb form to agree with the subject of a sentence.
• Comma Splices: This topic is also related to parallel structure, as it requires using commas correctly to separate items in a list or comparison.
• Grammar Errors: This topic is a broader category that includes parallel structure, subject-verb agreement, and comma splices, among other grammar rules.